Protests continue in Pforzheim on Tuesday
In a significant development, the service union Verdi has announced full-day warning strikes for Tuesday, October 31, 2023, in several regions of Baden-Württemberg, including Karlsruhe, Pforzheim, Freudenstadt, Mannheim, Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Reutlingen, Tübingen, and Esslingen. The strikes are aimed at pressing for better wages and working conditions in the retail and wholesale sectors.
Verdi, a major German trade union, has been advocating for a 15 percent increase in wages and salaries in retail and a 13 percent increase in wholesale. For apprentices, Verdi is demanding a payment of 200 euros in retail and 175 euros in wholesale. The union is also pushing for the general binding effect for the entire retail sector.
The ongoing wage negotiations in retail and mail order have been ongoing since April, while the negotiations in wholesale and external trade have been ongoing since May. The next negotiating date for retail and mail order is scheduled for November 3 (5th round), and for wholesale and external trade, it is set for December 6 (7th round).
The strikes, which are ahead of the next wage negotiations in November and December, are expected to affect several well-known companies, including Kaufland, Ikea, H&M, Primark, Obi, and the drugstore chain dm. Employees in the named regions are being called upon to participate in the strikes.
While the exact outcome or current status of these strikes would depend on the agreements reached or ongoing negotiations between Verdi and the employers' associations, it is recommended to consult more specific news sources, union announcements, or official statements from Verdi or the employers' associations for the most accurate and up-to-date information on these strikes.
- The strikes, taking place in the retail sector, are a part of Verdi's efforts to secure a 15 percent wage increase, along with the broader finance and wholesale industries, where they seek a 13 percent salary boost.
- With the ongoing negotiations with employers in the retail, mail order, wholesale, and external trade sectors scheduled for November and December, the strikes in Baden-Württemberg may have an impact on notable companies like Kaufland, Ikea, H&M, Primark, Obi, and dm.
